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Biomedical subjects

F Savoldi

Publications and source records attributed to F Savoldi.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1987

Neuropharmacological profile of ketanserin.

Eegraphic, behavioural, autonomic changes were studied in rabbits, after intravenous (i.v.) administration of L-5-hydroxytryptophan (L-5-HTP) and intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) administration of ketanserin. The cerebral electrical activity on cortex and Cornu Ammonis dorsale (CAd) was evaluated by means of quantitative EEG analysis. The two drugs induced specific changes in all the parameters examined. L-5-HTP caused stereotyped movements typical of the serotoninergic syndrome and EEG "arousal" pattern. Ketanserin did not induce any behavioural change; quantitative EEG analysis showed an increase in those parameters typical of "slow sleep" pattern. The changes caused in guinea pigs by pretreatment with ketanserin, in the experimental model of myoclonus induced by L-5-HTP, were investigated. In the present study the possible mechanisms of action which subtend these results are discussed.

5-Hydroxytryptophan↗
PubMed1987

Viloxazine in depressed women: clinical response and cardiovascular effects.

The antidepressant effect of viloxazine (300 and 500 mg/day) was investigated for 4 weeks in 26 depressed women. The decrease in the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale score indicated a prompt overall clinical improvement, the depressed mood and suicide items showing the highest percent diminution. The highest plasma level of viloxazine was reached at day 7 and decreased during treatment only with the 500 mg dosage. Blood pressure and pulse rate responses to orthostatic stress were slightly affected and showed few untoward cardiovascular reactions to drug treatment. The decrease of noradrenaline plasma levels in both postural positions might indicate a lower sympathetic nervous system tone.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Neurophysiological changes induced by 5-HT reuptake inhibitors in rabbits.

The EEGraphic, behavioural and autonomic changes induced by the administration of some inhibitors of serotonin (5-HT) reuptake were evaluated in the rabbit. The drugs examined were: Alaproclate (Ala), Citalopram (Cit), Fluoxetine (Fluo), Fluvoxamine (Fluvo), Indalpine (Ind), Zimelidine (Zim). It seems that all these drugs would act exclusively or prevalently on 5-HT uptake. The changes of the parameters studied were not homogeneous. Some of these drugs (Cit, Zim) induced an EEGraphic and behavioural "arousal" pattern, others (Fluo, Fluvo) a "slow wave sleep" one, others (Ala, Ind) a biphasic one (alteration of the two above-mentioned patterns). The possible hypotheses subtending these data are discussed.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

Meningeal leukemia diagnosed by cytocentrifuge study of cerebrospinal fluid. A study of 631 cerebrospinal fluid samples from 87 patients.

Owing to improved therapy and lengthened life span, the incidence of neuromeningeal involvement in leukemia is increasing. Careful examination of the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is important for an early diagnosis. Among the available techniques, the use of cytocentrifugation enables us to demonstrate central nervous system leukemia even if the white blood cell count in the CSF is under 10/cu mm. We describe the results obtained by examining 631 CSF samples from 87 patients affected by acute leukemia; central nervous system luekemia was found in 22.7% of the patients suffering from acute lymphocytic leukemia and in 6.4% of those with acute nonlymphocytic leukemia (ANLL), but this ratio is higher in ANLL compared with the survival as measured in months (a ratio of 2.0 in ANLL compared with 0.50 in acute lymphocytic leukemia). A "leukemic" CSF was found in 51.5% of prophylactically treated patients and in 73.1% of the untreated ones.

Centrifugation↗
PubMed1986

Carbamazepine poisoning: a case report.

In a case of acute intoxication produced by carbamazepine overdose ataxia and cyclic coma were the salient features. The mechanisms underlying these symptoms are discussed. Some peculiarities such as breathing irregularities and microhematuria are also described.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1986

Amitriptyline and nortriptyline plasma levels, urinary 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol and clinical response in depressed women.

Thirty-eight depressed female inpatients, treated intramuscularly with 100 mg/day amitriptyline (AMT), were monitored to investigate the relationships between plasma levels of the drug and its metabolite nortriptyline (NT), the urinary excretion of 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol (MHPG), side effects and clinical response. Considering the whole group, the clinical improvement was better within an intermediate range of AMT plus NT plasma concentrations (100-200 ng/ml). A more favorable outcome was also observed at NT plasma levels below 55 ng/ml. No significantly different percent clinical response among the patient clinical subgroups was observed as well as no significant correlations between MHPG decrease and drug plasma levels.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

Synchronizing EEG effect of mianserin.

The AA. report on the eegraphic, behavioral and neurovegetative effects caused by the i.v. administration of mianserin, in the rabbit. This substances induces behavioral sedation and EEG synchronization. In addition, these changes are partially reinforced with L-5-hydroxytryptophan (L-5HTP) and inhibited by pretreatment with DL-p-chlorophenylalanine (PCPA). In the light of these data, the AA. discuss the possible interactions between mianserin and neurotransmitter systems, particularly the serotoninergic one.

5-Hydroxytryptophan↗
PubMed1985

Behavioral and eegraphic changes induced by dopaminergic antidepressants in rabbits.

Nomifensine, Bupropion and Amineptine, "second generation" antidepressants with dopaminergic effects, were studied in the rabbit with special regard to their action on somatic and autonomic behavior, and cerebral electrical activity. All three drugs induced an "alarm" reaction and typical dopaminergic behavioral responses including sniffing, jumping and chewing. Mydriasis was also observed especially at high dose levels. EEG showed an arousal pattern for each of these drugs. A marked increase in the hippocampal spiking resulted from the i.v. administration of 15 mg/kg of Bupropion.

Animals↗
PubMed1984

Detection of myopathies in children by 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and comparison with histopathological patterns.

Report of a study of primary myopathies in children conducted within the framework of our program to evaluate the diagnostic potential of 1H NMR in muscular diseases. There are substantial differences in the in vitro 1H NMR response of skeletal muscles between normal children and children with congenital non progressive myopathies and Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

Child↗
PubMed1984

Synchronizing, sedative and anticonvulsive effects of centrally administered somatostatin in the conscious rabbit.

The effects of intracerebroventricular injection of somatostatin-14 on the cortical and deep structure electrical activity, somatic behavior and rectal temperature, were studied in 45 unanesthetized rabbits. In addition the antiepileptic action of the peptide was tested in these models: pentamethylenetetrazole-induced cortical spikes and waves, epileptic focus by topical application of strychnine and voltage-threshold for amygdala after-discharge. The results indicate that somatostatin exerts synchronizing, sedative and weak antiepileptic effects when centrally administered to rabbits.

Animals↗
PubMed1984

Headache and epilepsy: two autonomous entities?

The relationship between headache and epilepsy remains unresolved. We studied 3,600 patients affected by primary headache and 36 epileptic patients with a present or past history of headache. In the first group, no family history of epilepsy nor epileptiform EEG patterns were found. In the second group, there was no chronological relationship between epileptic seizure and headache attack in more than half of the patients; when found (46.1%) the relationship was neither precise nor specific. Taken as a whole, these data suggest the autonomous nature of epilepsy and headache.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1983

Detection of neurogenic muscle diseases by in vitro 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and comparison with histopathologic patterns.

This paper deals with the possibility of using proton (1H) NMR as a diagnostic tool for discriminating between normal and diseased tissues. As an example, we analyze in vitro the 1H NMR response of muscle from patients with neurogenic muscle diseases. It is suggested that there is correlation between the tissue morphology and some details of the proton relaxation processes. Our findings can be of relevance to a clinical application of NMR tomography.

Biopsy↗
PubMed1983

Nuclear magnetic resonance response of protons in normal and pathological human muscles.

An in vitro study of the nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) response of protons in normal and pathological human skeletal muscle is presented. Muscle biopsies from 34 patients with various neuromuscular diseases and five normal subjects were studied by proton NMR techniques and the results were compared with those of light and electron microscopy. Proton spin-lattice relaxation time (T1) and recovery law for the nuclear magnetization have been determined at 37 degrees C and 43.5 MHz. The T1S for normal tissues were in the 650 to 800 ms range and the recovery process was nearly exponential. Muscles with well defined neuromuscular diseases were associated with highly nonexponential relaxation processes. The relationship between morphological alterations of the muscle tissues and the proton NMR response may become the basis of a fast and simple method for the diagnosis of neuromuscular diseases.

Humans↗
PubMed1983

Centrally administered VIP increases spindle activity in unanaesthetized rabbits.

The action of VIP on structures responsible for cerebral electrical activity has been investigated in unanesthetized rabbits. VIP was given by slow infusion or bolus into the mesencephalic ventricle or the carotid artery, and topically applied on the motor or visual cortex. Both intracerebroventricular and intracarotid administration induced an increase of spindle activity of the cortex and an inhibition of the strychnine-transmitted spikes. These findings suggest a possible inhibitory role for VIP on certain CNS activity.

Anesthesia↗
PubMed1983

Beta-endorphin, beta-lipotropin and adrenocorticotropic hormone levels in cerebrospinal fluid, and brain damage in chronic alcoholics.

In 34 chronic alcoholics, subdivided into two groups according to the state of the blood-brain barrier (BBB), beta-lipotropin (beta-LPH), beta-endorphin (beta-EP), ACTH and cortisol levels were determined in basal conditions in the plasma and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Hormonal concentrations were correlated with brain damage and mnesic function. The results indicate the reduced CSF beta-EP content in chronic alcoholics and suggest that peripheral beta-EP may penetrate into the CSF compartment when there is BBB damage. They also sustain the different origins of central and peripheral pro-opiocortin-related peptides, and support the concept that beta-EP, beta-LPH and ACTH may be autonomously regulated at the central level. Moreover, both morphological brain damage and mnesic impairment in chronic alcoholics are unrelated to CSF peptide levels. The role of opioid peptides in the nature of alcohol-seeking behavior is supported.

Adrenocorticotropic Hormone↗
PubMed1983

Blood cells glutathione peroxidase activity and selenium in multiple sclerosis.

In the present study, the plasma and erythrocyte Se concentration and the erythrocyte and leukocyte glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity in 20 patients affected by multiple sclerosis (MS) were compared with those of a group of healthy controls. The Se concentration in the food was also studied and found to be less than the minimum values suggested by the US Food and Nutrition Board. The erythrocyte Se levels were found to be similar in both MS patients and in controls, while the plasma Se values were higher in the MS patients. The Se-dependent GSH-Px activity in the erythrocytes was found to be lower in the MS patients while no difference was found in the two groups as far as the leukocytes were concerned. Our data confirm that of other authors and indicate that the modified GSH-Px activity found in erythrocytes of MS patients is independent from the Se concentration and probably due to genetic factors.

Adult↗